Auxiliary hand grip for steering wheels



Jan. 11,1927.

J. VAN H. WHIPPLE UXILIARY HAND GR IP FOR STEERING WHEELS Filed Jan. 9, 1926 2w ezz az z Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNI E S ATE Jack van a. wmrnn, or mom, unw masmz.

46mins new can roa 'srnnmue wnnnrs Application fledv ianuary 9, 1826. serial No. 80,209.

The principal object of this invention-is to rovide a novel and improved form of kno ,preferably in the nature of an attachment for the steering wheels of auto- 5 mobilesfthe knob being adapted to be secured to the wheel or to one of the spokes of the wheel and: to" reject upwardly out of the plane of the l dtter so as to afiord a grip for the hand of a driver such that hemay rotate the wheel through an number 0 degrees without releasing l'llS hold or causing his'hand or arm to assume a strained position. I

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a knob of the stated type which shall have a topsurface smooth and continuous and of such nature as to present a good ap earance and a comfortable contacting sur ace for the hand.

Another object of the invention is to pro-v vide a novel and im roved resilient connection between the ra ial knob and the relatively fixed parts of the device, preventing rattllng due to play between these parts.

A still further object of the invention is found in a multipl'e'point contact between the knob device and the wheel to which it is attached which rendersthe device efliciently attachable to wheels of difi'erent diameter provide a means for securing the knob to" the rim including elements underl ing or passin around the rim of the whee and so ozime and attached to the other parts of the knob structure as to present no shoulders or projecting parts on the under side ofthe rim tending to catch the clothes of one operating the car, and providing an entirely smooth surface extending on the under side of the rim. In this res set, the invention contemplates the use of b ind nuts in conjunction with a substantially U-shaped knob retaining member whereb the projecting or threaded ends of the atter memof rim and also compensating for corrugaber are" passed into nuts, which latter occupy a position well above the under side of'the wheel rim.

The invention also contemplates the use b reason of its flexibility will assume the s a of the wheel rim.

invention also contemplates in a mod to of a spherical seat for the aforesaid nuts,

ified form the use of a knob construction I afiording a radial offset .of the knob when attached to the wheel rim,'this offset increasing the leverage of the knob on the wheel and materially facilitating the wheel-turning operation.

These and other useful ends I have accomplished by means of the construction illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a'transverse section through a knob made in accordance with my invention illustrating it as attached to a wheel Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thesame;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective illustrating the knob attached to the rim, and

Fig. 4 is a side view of a modified form of knob by means of which anincreased leverage on the wheel may be obtained.

Referringto the drawings, the knob comprises a body portion 1 preferably of .die cast aluminum alloy shaped as clearlyillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This body portion preferably has a flat circular upper surface conforming in shape and size to the under surface of the handle grip portion 2 of the knob, which may be of any desired form and which is secured to the body 1 by means of a screw 3, see Fig. 1, which extends upwardly through a central aperture in the body 1 and'into a knurled metal insert 4;

securely set in a suitable recess in the under side of the knob. This insert 4 preferably extends in a portion of reduced diameter 5 below the bottom surface of the knob, and this part 5 fits more or less snugly into the aforesaid aperture in the body 1, as clearly illustrated. l v p In order to provide for a free rotation of the knob on the body, the portions. is

of greater thickness than the body 1 in that spring accordingly tends to hold the knob snugly down against the upper surface of the body and prevents rattling between these parts.

The body 1 also carries in transverse alignment with the aperture 5 a pair of re1essed or counterbored openings 7 for the reception of nuts 8 8, these nuts being introduced into the apertures from the top of the body and being suspended by their extended heads in the counterbores. Preferably the apertures are counterbored at the top so as to provide spherical seats for the correspondingly formed heads 9 of the nuts, and below-these seats the openings 7 whirh extend through the flanges are tapered outwardly to, afiord a slight play for the nuts so that the latter may adjust themselves on the spherical seats, for a purpose hereinafter described.

As the means for retaining the knob securely on the wheel, I employ in conjunction with the nuts 8, 8, a U bolt 10 which with its threaded ends engaged by the nuts error.

8, 8, is adapted to extend underneath and around the rim or s oke to which the knob may be attached. Iii will now be apparent that the spherical seats 4 and the self-adjusting characteristics of the nuts 8, 8, as previously described. give allowance for slight errors in the dimensions of the U bolt and prevent binding due to such dimensional of the nuts in tightening up the U bolt and relieves the parts of strain due to a possible poor fit between the nuts and the U bolt.

It will be noted that the body part 1 is formed at either end with a recess 11 into which the rim or spoke, as the case may be, fits, this recess being in the nature of a socket for the part to-which the knob is attached; In order to prevent marring of the wheel parts by contact with the under side of the body and the bolt 10, I preferably provide pads 12 and 13 adapted to fit between the rim and the body and between the rim and the U bolt, as clearly illustrated. This pad may be of felt, leather or any soft or resilient material. 7

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modification of the device in which the body part 1 is extended so that the clamp 10, instead of This device insures a free movement lying directly below the knob, is offset transversely therefrom by reason of the fact that the clamp is at one end of the extended body portion, while the knob is at the opposite end. that portion of the body Which engages the rim and the means for clamping the body to the wheel'being in all essential rcspects the same as in the embodiment previously described. In this instance, however, instead of employing a U bolt which is round. I employ one which between the cylindrical threaded end sections takes the form of a flat flexible strap, which by reason of its flexibility will conform closely to the shape of the part of the wheel which it embraces. In this embodiment also, the method of attaching the knob to the body 1 may be identical with that previously described. This embodiment is intended to be attached with the body extending radially outwardly from the rim, and the effect obtained is one of increased leverage rendering the operation of the wheel easier than where the knob is I is left smooth and unbroken, thereby not only affording a highly satisfactory appeartime but also providing an absolutely smooth and satisfactory grip for the hand. The material advantage of the spring tensioning meansv will be apparent, since it precludes ibility of annoyin rattles between the oh and the body. It will also be noted that I have provided what in effect is a three-point contact between the knob structure and the part to which it may be secured. This three-point contact is effected by forming the body portion with two separate points of contact with the rim, this contact as previously described being in the recesses 11 at each end of the body and by employing I the U bolt connection intermediate the points of contact between the rim' and the body. This construction is of considerable impor ,tance by reason of the wide variations in the form of the rims of automobile steering wheels and the necesity that the knob be capable of attachment to any rim regardless of its form. In some instances, the rim of the wheel for example is corrugated, and this three-point contact insures -a snug fit between the knob structure and the rim regardless of the general shape of the latter.

A considerable improvement is also obtained in the use of fastening means which will not mar the finish of the wheel to which it is attached, nor require the use of boring tools or the like. As previously described,

the U bolt embraces the wheel, and protective points of contact betweenthe wheel and the pads may be placed at each, of the three knob parts. This not only insures preservat on of the wheel in its original state by eliminating. fastening means which pass through the rim, but the wheel is not weakened, and if anything reinforced and made stronger by the knob. It will further, be noted that by employing the U bolt and nut construction previously described and illustrated in the drawings, the fastening means are positioned entirelyabove the bottom of the rim, there being no bolts or similar protrusions extending below the under surface of the rim to'catch and tear'the clothing of the driver, and the U bolt or strap presenting an entirely smooth surface on the under side of the rim. i

A considerable advantage is also realized in the self-adjusting nature of the bolts, this insuring the entire freedom of 'movement of the bolts in the tightening operation regardless of slight errors in the dimensions of the U bolt and preventing binding of the parts with consequent strains in the knob structure.

It will be understood that the device is capable of some modification without departure from the essential features of the invention.

Iclaim: l 1. In an auxiliary handle grip for, vehicle steering wheels, the combination with a body, of means for securing the body to the wheel, a knob rotatably secured to the body, and resilient means, for preventing uncontrolled relative movement between the knob and the body. 1

2. In an auxiliary handle grip for vehicle steering wheels, the combination with a body part, of means for securing said body to the 'wheel, a knob rotatably secured on the body,

and a spring engaging the body and-open. atively connected with the knob to maintain the knob in close engagement with the body. 3. In an auxilia handle grip for vehicle steering wheels, t e comblnation with a body, of means for securing the bodyto the wheel, a knob, an element extending from the knob and rotatably secured in the body.

and a spring operatively connected with said element and exerting thereon a pressure tending to retain. the knob closely against the body. 1

4. In an auxiliary handle grip for vehicle steering wheels, the combination with a body part, of means for securing the body to the wheel, said body having an aperture there-. in, a knob adapted to seat upon the body and having a centralcylindrical extension adapted to project through said aperture, an element secured in the said extension and engaging the under side of the body to I prevent wit drawal of the knob, and a knob closely against its seat upon the body.

.5. Inan auxil'ary handle ip for vehicle steering wheels, the combination with a body part, of means for securing the body to the wheel, a knob, and means confined: to the base of the knob for securing the knob rotatably and resiliently to the body.

6. In aneauxiliary handle grip for vehicle steering wheels, the combinat on withv a body part, of a knob secured to the body, a substantially u shaped rim-embracing member,

and means for securing said member at its extremities to the'body, said securing means at at least one end of the member including threads on the member, and a correspondingly threaded element rotatably mounted :n' the body and cooperating with said threaded part of the rim-embracing member to draw the-.member and body together to securely grip the rim therebetween.

7. In an auxiliar handle'grip for vehicle steering wheels, 't e combination with a body, of a knob rotatably mounted on} the body, a pair of-nuts rotatablymounted'in the body and projecting from the under sde thereof, and a substantially U-shaped clamp adapted to embrace that part of the wheel to which the knob is attached and having threaded ends en aged by said nuts.

' 8. In an auxiliary han le grip for vehicle steering wheels, the combination with a body, of a knob rotatably mounted on the body, a securing element secured at one end to the body and adapted to embrace that part of the wheel to which the knob is attached, means for securfn the other end of the securing element to t e body including a nut rotatably mounted in the bodyand adapted to engage the threaded end of said element, and means providing for limited self-adjustment ofthe nut into alignment with the axis of the threaded end of said element. I v

9. In an auxiliar handle grip for vehicle steering wheels, t e combination with a body, of a knob rotatably mounted on the body, an element vadapted to embrace that.

freely rotatable in .the I body, a U-shaped clamping member having threaded ends for enga ement with said nuts, and a knob secure tothebod J' 11. In an-aux' 'ary handle grip for vehicle steering wheels, the combination with a body having an enlargement at each end, each of said enlargements being recessed on the under side, a substantially U-shaped retaining member detachably secured to the under side of the body intermediate said enlarged ends, and a knob mounted on the upper side of saidbody. v

12. In an auxiliary handle grip for vehicle steering wheels, the combination with a body part, of a knob rotatably secured on the body, means for securing the body to the wheel including an element havin threaded engagement with the body an between which and the body a part of the wheel is confined, and means providing for self alignment of the interengaging threaded parts on the body and said element;

13. In an auxiliary handle grip for vehicle steering 'wheels, the combination with a body, of means attached to said body intermediate the ends for securing the body. to the wheel, said body being adapted to con-- tact with the wheel at segregated points respectively on opposite sides of said retain- .ing means, and a knob secured to the body.

14. In an auxiliary handle grip for vehi cle steering wheels, the combination with a body, of a knob mounted on said body,

means for clamping said body to the rim inchfding an element adapted with the body member to encircle that part of the wheel to which the body is attached, and resilient lining elements adapted for insertion between the wheel and the contacting parts of the knob structure.

15. In an auxiliary handle grip for vehicle steering wheels, the combination with an extended body portion having at one end means for attaching the body to the wheel, of a knob mounted on said body so as to project therefrom in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of the rim of sad wheel and being arranged at the opposite end of said body from the said attaching 'means whereby the knob is ofiset radially from the rim of the wheel.

16. In an auxiliary handle grip for vehicle steerng wheels, the combination with a body, of a knob mounted on said body, and means for securing the body to the wheel including a member for embracing that part of the wheel to which the body is attached, said body being formed to contact with the wheel at segregated points only and the embracing member being positioned intermediate said points of contact.

JACK VAN H. WHIPPLE. 

